Social Sciences Research Specialist

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We are transforming and saving lives at DYS!

A safer Ohio: one youth, one family and one community at a time.

About Us…

The Ohio Department of Youth Services strives to save and transform the lives of youth throughout the state of Ohio. Our employees work together to support youth and empower families and communities. In addition to our three juvenile corrections facilities, we support more than 600 community programs reaching more than 90,000 youth across the state.

Our Guiding Principles…

• Demonstrate staff are our greatest resource
• Treat everyone with respect
• Cultivate a trauma responsive environment for staff and youth to thrive
• Provide the best support and services for youth and families
• Advance our culture of inclusion through understanding and appreciating staff and youth differences
• Commit to and encourage collaboration and continuous improvement to produce better outcomes for those we serve
• Celebrate collective successes and support one another through opportunities to improve

To learn more about DYS, please visit our website by clicking here.

 

DYS is seeking a Social Sciences Research Specialist in the Office of Best Practices Institute. This position will conduct research studies concerning a variety of DYS related issues. 

Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Independently reviews, designs and plans social sciences research projects that include project definition, statistical and sampling techniques using tools required to analyze and interpret data provided by stakeholders.
• Utilize advanced skills in descriptive and quantitative statistical concepts including central tendency variability & standard error comparisons, correlational and predictive measures, regression analysis, and Bayesian analysis.
• Provides information and technical assistance to agency staff on research and evaluation issues.
• Conducts qualitative interviews onsite or virtually and completes written thematic content analysis as required.
• Contributes to the Department's internal and external publications.
• Develops social sciences statistical and conceptual models for social science research and evaluation projects.
• Develop graphic presentations.
• Utilizes software including Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), Excel, Tableau, SAS, PowerBI, Google, and others to test hypotheses.
• Prepares records and reports related to research projects that concisely articulate analysis and interpretation of research projects.
• Acts as liaison with information Technology Systems (ITS) to develop and identify expanded data system requirements and inter-dependency between data networks.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Completion of graduate core coursework in social science or public administration with at least 6 courses in advanced statistics & statistical analysis & research theory, design & methodology; 18 mos. exp. in research &/or social science policy analysis using advanced statistics & statistical analysis & research theory, design & methodology; 12 mos. trg. or 12 mos. exp. in use of computer hardware, software used for spreadsheets, statistical analysis & graphics presentation & work processing.

-Or 6 mos. exp. as Social Sciences Research Analyst, 65261.

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Research

BACKGROUND CHECK NOTICE:
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check that includes results from BCI and FBI. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

PRE-SERVICE TRAINING:

All new candidates hired to the Department of Youth Services are required to attend 3 weeks of mandatory, paid training at the Correctional Training Academy in Orient, Ohio. Training Academy hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

DYS is a “qualifying employer” for purposes of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness [PSLF] program.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.